Rail-joint



[No Model.)

E. J SOHINDEHUTTE. RAIL JOINT.

No. 606,089. Patented June 21,1898.

E EE=E Qfin E ix Illlllllllllflllfllllllllllllllllllllllllllllilllllllllllll E .HIIIIMMIIIllllllllllllllllllllllllll NITE STATES ERNSTJOHN SCHINDEHI ITTE, OF MOKEES ROCKS, PENNSYLVANIA.

RAIL-JOINT.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N 0. 666,089, dated June21, 1898. Application-filed December 7, I897. Serial No. 661,062. (Nomodel.)

To all whom it may c0noern.-

Be it known that 1, Elmer JOHN SCHINDE- HI'JTTE, a citizen of the UnitedStates of Amer- This invention relates to certain new and usefulimprovements in rail-joints, and has for its object to connect two railstogether in such a manner that the same will be prevented from saggingat the joint and a perfectly smooth and even joint will be therebyattained.

The principal features of my invention re side in the connecting-bars orfish-plates that are rolled to conform to the side of the rail andextend the entire length of the same. These connecting-bars orfish-plates are provided near their one end with a transverselyextendinglug, which passes through an aperture provided therefor in the rail,while at their other end they are provided with an aperture to receive acorresponding transversely-extendinglug formed on the fishplate of theopposite side of the rail; and to this end the invention consists in thenovel construction, combination, and arrangement of parts tobehereinafter more specifically described, and particularly pointed outin the claim. I

In describing the invention in detail reference is had to theaccompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, and whereinlike letters of reference indicate similar parts throughout the severalViews, in which-- Figure l is a perspective view of a portion of the tworails joined together in accordance with my invention. Fig. 2 is alongitudinal sectional View of the rail with a portion of thefish-plates in position. Fig. 3 is a transverse vertical sectional viewtaken through the rail and fish-plate on the line X X of Fig. 2. Fig. 4is a perspective view of a portion of one of the fish-plates partlybroken away. Fig. 5..is a perspective View of a portion of the rail.Fig.6 is a perspective View of the locking-key employed for holding thefish-plates in engagement with the rails.

Referring now to the drawings by reference-letters, 0 indicates therail, which may be rolled in any of the well-known forms and the web I)of which is provided at or near its center with two openings 0 c. Thefish-plates d are adapted to extend almost or the full length of therails and are of course rolled to conform to the design of rail that isused. These fish-plates are formed on their inner face and at the oneend with a transverselyextending lug e, which passesthrough the aperture0 provided therefor in the web of the rail, and at their other end theyare provided with an oblong slot f, that is adapted to receive thecorresponding lug eon the opposite end of the fish-plate on the oppositeside of the rail. These lugs e are provided with an aperture 6 toreceive the key or wedge g, which is provided with a prong end g, sothat these prongs may be bent outwardly after the key or wedge has beenplaced in its position, and thereby prevent accidental disengagement ofthe same. The slots 0 provided in the web of the rail are made of agreater width than the lug e or slots f to allow for the expansion andcontraction of the rail. In this construction the rails may be securedto the cross-ties by spiking in the ordinary manner, and by theformation of the lugs on the fish-plates to engage the rails theordinary bolts employed for such use are dispensedwith. The rail is alsomade perfectly strong at the joint and is materially strengthenedthroughout its length by reason of the fish-plate being the same lengthas the rail. 7

While the construction as herein shown and described appears to embodythe preferable form of my invention, yet I do not wish to limit myselfto this specific construction, but reserve the right to vary and changethe same at will as may be required and as is Within the scope of theprotection prayed for.

Having fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is-

In a rail-joint, the combination of a rail, of fish-plates engaging theweb of the rail, said fish-plates being provided with a flangeconforming to the base of the rail, said fishplate being also providedon one end with an aperture, the opposite end with a transversely-extending lug, said lug passing through an aperture formed inthe web of the rail at or near the center thereof and through theaperture of the fish-plate 0n the opposite side of the rail, and a wedgeor key In testimony whereof I afiix my signature in presence of twoWitnesses.

ERNST JOHN SOHINDEHUTTE.

Witnesses:

II. C. EVERT, WILLIAM E. MINOR.

